In this episode, we explore the future of leadership through the lens of wisdom, compassion, and visionary thinking with Zoë Routh from Canberra, Australia. Zoë discusses heart-centered leadership in the sense of elevating those around us and making decisions with deep, long-lasting impact. We delve into how curiosity, creativity, and collaboration can weave together disparate ideas into innovative solutions.

Zoë also addresses the complexities of leadership, including the courage required to make difficult decisions that may have personal or organizational costs. We examine negative power dynamics within some leaders and organizations, such as credit stealing and blame shifting, highlighting their impact and the need to address these behaviors for a healthier workplace culture. Our discussion moves to the systemic changes needed for transparent and accountable leadership, aiming to eliminate office politics and foster collaborative environments. Zoë suggests strategies for leadership development that accelerate individuals through stages of maturity, promoting collaboration over competition. She challenges leaders to prepare for a future where transparency, accountability, and collaborative leadership are paramount, paving the way for more effective leadership in challenging times.

About Zoë Routh:

Zoë Routh is a leadership futurist, podcaster, and multiple award-winning author of seven books. She works with leaders and teams to explore what's coming and what it means for leadership of the future. She has worked with individuals and teams internationally and in Australia since 1987. From wild Canadian rivers to the Australian Outback, and the Boardroom jungles, Zoë is an adventurist! She facilitates strategy and culture for the future with audacious teams. Zoë's fourth leadership book, People Stuff- Beyond Personality Problems: An advanced handbook for leadership, won the Book of the Year at the Australian Business Book Awards in 2020. Her fifth book is a leadership futurist science fiction dystopian novel, The Olympus Project, and won a Gold Medal at the Readers' Favourites awards in 2023. Zoë is the producer of the Zoë Routh Leadership Podcast, dedicated to asking “What if…?” and sharing big ideas on the Future of Leadership. Zoë is an outdoor adventurist and enjoys telemark skiing, has run 6 marathons, is a one-time belly-dancer, has survived cancer, and loves hiking in the high country. She is married to a gorgeous Aussie and is a self-confessed dark chocolate addict.